Please respond to each post. Place reference under EACH response.
1. Abm Asim
Since I am living in Australia at the moment, for my company, I figured I’d choose Capgemini, which is a French IT company, with a huge footprint in Australia.
Capgemini’s mission statment is “with you, we create and deliver business and technology solutions that fit your needs and drive the results you want. ” Capgemini is a global consulting, technology services, and digital transformation company. Consulting Services, Technology Services and Outsourcing Services.
Capgemini strategically uses information systems to enhance its competitive advantage and support its client base through partnerships, using cloud solutions, and Data/AI-Driven insights.
Partnerships and Technology Integration: Capgemini has strengthened its strategic partnership with Microsoft, leveraging an end-to-end portfolio of services that includes digital core with SAP S/4HANA, data estate modernization, AI, and cloud technologies like Azure. This collaboration aims to accelerate clients’ adoption of cloud technologies, enhancing their digital transformation efforts.
Cloud and Observability Solutions: By utilizing AWS Systems Manager and AWS CloudWatch, Capgemini provides self-service monitoring and observability solutions. These tools help collect metrics and logs from various systems, optimize resource utilization, and provide a unified view of operational health. This approach allows clients to respond quickly to performance changes and maintain high operational efficiency.
Data and AI-Driven Insights: Capgemini emphasizes the use of data and AI to generate actionable insights for decision-making. This includes the modernization of data centers and the implementation of intelligent industry solutions. These efforts help clients improve their decision-making processes and operational efficiency.
By integrating advanced technology solutions and forming strategic partnerships, Capgemini effectively uses information systems to support its clients’ strategic goals, drive innovation, and maintain a competitive edge in the market.
Sources:
“2024 Key Trends in Public Security.” Capgemini Belgium, 13 Feb. 2024, www.capgemini.com. Accessed 19 May 2024.
“Capgemini Strengthens Its Strategic Partnership With Microsoft in North America.” Business Wire, www.businesswire.com, 2024. Accessed 19 May 2024.
“How Capgemini used AWS Systems Manager and AWS Cloud Native Observability to Provide Self-Service Monitoring.” AWS Cloud Operations & Migrations Blog, aws.amazon.com, 2024. Accessed 19 May 2024.
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2. I work at 3B Scientific where we use information systems to help us save time and money, it encompasses every aspect of our operations, including logistics and order fulfillment. To achieve our goals of efficiency and customer satisfaction, we utilize ShipHawk, an advanced warehouse management and shipping program that integrates seamlessly with NetSuite. In this post, I will discuss how ShipHawk enhances efficiency throughout the value chain at 3B Scientific, supported by personal experience and an understanding of logistics management principles.
Firstly, ShipHawk simplifies the receiving process by pulling purchase orders (POs) from NetSuite and guiding warehouse staff through the inventory put-away process. By consolidating inventory based on recommendations from ShipHawk, we optimize warehouse space and reduce the time required for inventory management. This aligns with our goal of maximizing efficiency in our operations, allowing us to focus more resources on innovation and customer service.
Moreover, ShipHawk’s order picking functionality is a game-changer in our warehouse operations. Using a first-in, first-out (FIFO) system, ShipHawk creates optimized picking routes that minimize backtracking and maximize efficiency. This ensures that orders are fulfilled promptly, leading to higher customer satisfaction levels. My personal experience with ShipHawk has shown me how this feature significantly streamlines our order fulfillment process, especially during peak seasons when order volumes are high.
Furthermore, ShipHawk’s ability to track order details and container contents simplifies the packing process. By seamlessly integrating with NetSuite, ShipHawk ensures that order and carrier details are accurately recorded and transmitted, reducing the likelihood of errors and delays. This level of automation not only saves time for our warehouse staff but also enhances the accuracy of our shipping operations, contributing to our reputation for excellent customer service.
In addition to personal experience, it’s important to note that ShipHawk’s effectiveness is supported by research on warehouse management systems (WMS) and logistics technologies. According to a study by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), companies that implement advanced WMS solutions experience significant improvements in order accuracy, inventory visibility, and labor productivity. ShipHawk aligns with these findings by offering a comprehensive solution that addresses key pain points in warehouse management.
In conclusion, ShipHawk plays a crucial role in enhancing efficiency throughout the value chain at 3B Scientific. By streamlining processes such as receiving, order picking, and shipping, ShipHawk not only saves time and money but also contributes to our overarching goals of providing high-quality products and excellent customer service.
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3. A good example of a company that utilizes information systems strategically is Microsoft using Microsoft Dynamics 365. This system allows business functions to be optimized in different ways in order to increase solutions to major priorities that are crucial to flexibility and adaptability. Some ways it will help a business is broken down in a few ways, finance, human resources, manufacturing, supply and demand. Combining AI platforms to allow recommendations to be fed into the customer base using a more personalized experience which increases the potential for a business to grow along with improving employee work. As your business grows money flow will increase and Dynamic 365 can tailor your information that you are no longer entering data long handed and be automatically generated based on analysis of business details. With this you cut down on overall time spent completing randomized tasks for employees.
With Dynamic 365 it can integrate with other systems such as payroll and recruitment with the ability to offer solutions for tasks that would normally take hours or days to complete. For example if you have a 360 assessment of employees every month, rather than hiring a human resources manager Dynamic 365 can work to analyze the data and show trends that could potentially become harmfully to a company. In doing this your improving the overall work environment and creating a space for individuals to want to come and work for. The main factor of Dynamic 365 is its ability to automate normal tasks or processes in order to fulfill customer demands using its AI software to access data 24/7. Utilizing some of the trends it can improve management in cost and production without the need to have individuals analyze ways to optimize projects.
Microsoft dynamics 365 strongest trait is its ability to seamlessly integrate with other cloud based platforms. Enabling 365 can push a business over the edge as it automatically analyzes data being able to be accessed from anywhere. It can be tailored to fit the needs of a small business without the major overhead cost by purchasing small sections of other tools to integrate with. However it can be integrated into major corporations thus making its scalability endless.
Overall I believe that systems like Dynamic 365 can improve a business drastically by providing avenues to streamline work efficiency. Utilizing AI to improve data processes along with integrating with other systems you can save time and resources while also cutting down on costs allowing work productivity to improve.
Corporation, M. (n.d.). Enterprise Resource Planning System: Microsoft Dynamics 365. Enterprise Resource Planning System | Microsoft Dynamics 365. https://dynamics.microsoft.com/en-us/erp/enterprise-resource-planning-system/
Sp, A. (n.d.-b). How do microsoft dynamics 365 solutions benefit businesses?. Microsoft Q&A. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/1276665/how-do-microsoft-dynamics-365-solutions-benefit-bu
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4. Derek Pickens-W2
The managerial level in a retail business involves personnel that is involved in providing middle-term planning solutions to the problem of effective operations. A major choice in this layer may concern supply-chain management decisions: the timing and quantity of restocking selected products. This decision assumes critical importance in achieving a better work relationship between supply to meet the customer orders and the costs of maintaining the inventory. To make restocking decisions a manager has to do this with the data extracted from the inventory management system. This system covers all aspects concerning sales history, stocks, and turnover rate information. For example, the manager can gain access to reports that show trends in the most and least popular products. Such reports might indicate that the company is selling a given product 25% more this quarter than the previous quarter suggesting that the inventory levels ought to be increased.
It is also important to note that an inventory management system can help the manager understand seasonality and trends so that the manager can determine what will be needed in the future. For instance, if the system can record that selected items show the highest sales during specific months or selected holidays, the manager can plan to restock before the peak seasons whereby students are likely to miss courses or not be able to attend classes because of limited or no stock to acquire (Shatoya Mitchell, n.d). Information technologies also help since they provide information concerning the customers’ tastes and buying habits. For instance, the manager could gather the customer responses and purchasing rate to determine the product best suited for keeping in stock. Besides, they can combine information from POS systems to check inventory and track individual products’ stock in real-time and order more if a product is moving faster. The IT systems offer management a certain amount of information to make the restocking decisions to increase operational efficiency, decrease costs, and improve customer services still the retail business is highly dependent on efficiency and profitability.
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5. Eric Schroeder
A store manager may be tasked with reducing some of his stores inventory by his upper management. It would be important for him to understand why he’s being asked to reduce his inventory. To help him in this he could look at his stores data to determine whether or not what he needs to reduce is a popular seller. He would then need to make a strategic decision on how to reduce the inventory. He could simply ship it back to one of his companies regional distribution centers but that would surely incur extra costs. Another option to look at could be a sales promotion. As a store manager, he would be the best person to understand his stores local demographic and target audience. Customer information systems can offer him data on customer demographics, purchasing behavior, and preferences for his specific store and allow him to tailor a promotion to specific customer segments. Understanding demographics is important because it helps “identify and understand your target audience. You can then focus your marketing strategies on consumers who are most likely to buy your products rather than try to reach everyone. It’s a more cost-effective and manageable way to promote your products and reach new customers.” Choosing this approach could help him smartly reduce his stores inventory to meet the goals of his upper management.
Chapter 4: The importance of customer demographics in retail. Creative Displays Now. (2022, December 15). https://www.creativedisplaysnow.com/guides/understanding-the-retail-customer/chapter-4-the-importance-of-customer-demographics-in-retail/#:~:text=Demographics%20can%20help%20you%20identify,products%20and%20reach%20new%20customers.
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6. JAILYN JONES
One of the regional managers is struggling to hit the projected YOY net sales numbers as his region has had an extremely strong sales performance the last few years. Per the National Retail Federation, “the average shrink rate in FY 2022 increased to 1.6%, up from 1.4% the previous year. Shrink percentages can vary significantly by retail sector. On par with previous years, internal and external theft accounted for nearly two-thirds (65%) of retailers’ shrink. ”
Knowing that another way to be profitable is to save money where his stores are struggling, is in its operations. He requests the operations reports of his stores and assigns colors as green, yellow and red to indicate if a store is respectively doing well, doing ok or losing more money than it should be and tightens up his goals in regard to shrink, inventory management and special pricing or discounting as well as scheduling and in particular, Overtime.
He then assigns the store managers to have an all hands meeting where they can discuss the issue and will analyze best practices from the stores in the green and the issues that are holding the stores in the red back from being as profitable as they could be. Looking at the operations reports will help them identify the items with a higher propensity to go missing so better security measures can be put in place for items around the sales floor. From there, they discuss best practices to take back as a regional standard that will be enacted in each of the individual stores. The stores in the red will have a weekly call to assess their progress and any further actions required. They will reconvene in an individual basis after one quarter if their individual store continues to have the same struggles and shows a lack of progress.
References:
1. Inman, D. (2023, September 26). Shrink Accounted for Over $112 Billion in Industry Losses in 2022, According to NRF Report. NRF.com. Retrieved May 19, 2024, from https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/shrink-accounted-over-112-billion-industry-losses-2022-according-nrf
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7. Answer this discussion post:
Drawing from your own experience, select a process (a set of specified steps to accomplish a task) used at your place of work or in an interaction with a business that you would like to see improved and briefly describe the process. Be sure you have identified a specific process rather than a general business problem or area.
Explain why you picked that process.
Explain the steps you might take to analyze how to improve the process.
Who should be involved with you?
What are some of the questions you should ask about the current process?
How will you know if the process was actually improved?
First, we need to be sure you can identify a process. Many students have difficulty with this, so refer to your class reading. Be sure to pick a fairly narrow scope for your process— For example, processing an invoice for payment vs. Accounts Payable. I am also interested in the method used to improve the process, not a solution. For example, I am not looking for something like, “The Café where I work is not selling enough coffee. We should use social media to advertise more.” The discussion here is about identifying a specific process and how a business would go about deciding how to improve that process, who should be involved, what should be considered, and what steps should be taken to be able to analyze the current process and plan for improvement. You should employ the techniques discussed in class or those that you find in your research. Keep in mind that outside resources strengthen your responses.
The post should be roughly two paragraphs long and supported by external research.
Your posts need to thoroughly respond to the questions and incorporate relevant research correctly.
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8. Respond to these posts and place the references under EACH post.
Derek Pickens
Your discussion post presents a thorough and well-considered approach to improving the Visitor Access Control Procedure. This process is indeed vital for maintaining base security while ensuring an efficient and positive visitor experience. Your approach to improving the Visitor Access Control Procedure is comprehensive and well-structured. By focusing on detailed process mapping, data-driven analysis, stakeholder involvement, and continuous improvement, you are setting a solid foundation for enhancing both security and efficiency at the base.
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9. Brian Prasad-W4
I chose the communication aspect to address for this weeks discussion topic. Companies can utilize information systems and the data within them to address communication challenges by implementing tools and strategies designed to enhance internal and external communication. By leveraging data analytics, companies can gain insights into communication patterns, preferences, and effectiveness, allowing them to tailor their communication strategies accordingly. For instance, analyzing email response times or meeting attendance patterns can help identify bottlenecks or areas needing improvement in internal communication processes. Furthermore, utilizing collaboration platforms, such as project management systems or messaging apps, can streamline communication among teams and departments. By centralizing communication channels within information systems, companies can ensure timely and consistent messaging, directly addressing communication issues and fostering better connectivity and efficiency within the organization.
One major company that extensively uses information systems for communication and data analysis is Amazon. Amazon utilizes various types of information systems to gather, analyze, and distribute data within the company. Some examples of these systems include:
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems: Amazon uses CRM systems to gather and analyze customer data, preferences, and purchase history to personalize interactions and improve customer satisfaction.
Supply Chain Management Systems: Amazon employs supply chain management systems to optimize inventory levels, track shipments, and streamline logistics operations for efficient order fulfillment.
Business Intelligence (BI) Systems: Amazon utilizes BI systems to analyze sales trends, customer behavior, and operational performance to make data-driven decisions and improve business strategies.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems: Amazon integrates ERP systems to manage financial data, human resources, and other core business functions, ensuring data consistency and efficiency in operations.
Communication and Collaboration Platforms: Amazon leverages communication and collaboration tools like Slack, Chime, and internal email systems to facilitate seamless communication and teamwork among employees across different departments and locations.
By effectively using these information systems, Amazon can gather valuable data, analyze it for insights, and distribute relevant information to drive decision-making, improve operational efficiency, and enhance communication both internally and with customers.
Ryan, T. (2023, November 21). How Amazon’s unique hiring process helped it scale to 1.6m employees globally. Tim’s Playbook | Tim Ryan | Substack. https://www.timsplaybook.com/p/how-amazons-unique-hiring-process
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10. Daniel Lokesak – W4
I have concentrated on workflow for this discussion. The workflow involves defining roles and process steps, determining responsibilities, and outlining how information or documents move from one step to another in a defined process (Marr, 2018). Information systems (IT) can utilize this information and establish specific rules to improve consistency and efficiency. An effective technology solution can automate these steps, route information, and provide timelines.
Amazon is a perfect example of a company that uses “Big Data” in practice to help build a 360-degree view of all customers using their service. According to the textbook, the term “big data” refers to massively large data sets that conventional database tools do not have the processing power to analyze (Chapter 4: Data and Databases). Understanding the best tools and techniques to manage and analyze large data sets is a challenge that businesses are trying to solve in order to gain an advantage over their competition.
Amazon is facing a significant challenge within its company. Customers can spend hours mindlessly browsing through the items on the website, often wasting both time and money. With the use of “Big Data,” once Amazon has some of your search history, you will immediately be directed to pages such as “You recently viewed this” or “Continue your search for” without even typing in a keyword. Big Data enables Amazon to suggest what you might be interested in buying, rather than just what you are looking for. The more customers visit the site, the larger the database becomes for each individual, allowing Amazon to predict better your interests and potentially even listen to your conversations. Ultimately, Big Data is utilized to help you find what you’re looking for faster, understand your interests, and encourage you to spend money more quickly.
According to Marr (2018), Amazon’s recommendation technology is based on collaborative filtering, which means it can decide what the customers wish to achieve and then offer the products to other similar customers with the same database. The workflow is created instantly and is very cost-effective. All this data is used to build up the 360-degree view of each individual customer (Marr,2018.)
References:
Marr, B. (2021, July 23). Amazon: Using Big Data to understand customes. Bernard Marr & CO. Retrieved June 7, 2024, from https://bernardmarr.com/amazon-using-big-data-to-understand-customers/
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11. Romit Chhetri
Amazon is now one of the most influential multinational technology company. It started with an online bookstore in 1994, then expanded to a cloud computing platform, Digital Content ( Amazon Prime), smart speakers (Alexa and Echo) and logistics and fulfillment centers now available in over 20 countries. It is really amazing to see how in past 30 years it has changed the shopping experience. I wondered how Amazon manages all this operation so efficiently. Amazon uses information systems to optimize its workflow from Order Placement →Order Processing→ Inventory Management →Picking and Packing →Shipping and Logistics.
Amazon uses Robotic Process Automation (RPA) at the logistics and fulfillment center to enhance the workflow using advanced algorithms to automate the tasks such as ( picking, packing and sorting) and Management Information Systems (MIT) to control, plan and decision-making processes in order to successfully monitor and regulate its operations and strategically plan for the future by giving the decision makers with the up-to date and relevant information. Amazon integrates ERP systems (Enterprise Resource Planning) into its operations to standardize and automate business processes by collecting all the data from department like (finance, procurement and inventory management) which helps to reduce manual errors, streamline workflow and enhance decision making processes. While working at Amazon I really appreciate the Mobile Workflow solution. This empowers employees to work anytime, anywhere using its ( A to Z ) app, and also allows employees to apply for vacation or a day off, giving other employees more hours to cover and making the workflow more efficient.
References:
Revainreviews( 2023, August 17). The Analysis of Information Systems at Amazon and Revain. https://medium.com/@revainreviews/the-analysis-of-information-systems-at-amazon-and-revain-9618ecf8c67d
Behnke Kim 3 Examples of Big Companies Using ERPs https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/strategy-operations/3-examples-of-erps/#:~:text=1.,data%20processing%20in%20real%2Dtime.
Amazon Web Services :https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/solutions/business-applications/what-is/robotic-process-automation-rpa?aws-marketplace-cards.sort-by=item.additionalFields.sortOrder&aws-marketplace-cards.sort-order=asc
